Overview

Set on South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan during the fall of 1871, To Keep the South Manitou Light tells the fictional tale of a twelve-year-old girl named Jessie, whose family has been taking care of the lighthouse on the island for generations. Jessie’s mother has kept the light by herself since Jessie’s grandfather died of a heart attack ten days before the story begins. Afraid her family will lose the lighthouse, Jessie decides not to mail her mother’s letter informing the Lighthouse Service of her ...

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Overview

Set on South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan during the fall of 1871, To Keep the South Manitou Light tells the fictional tale of a twelve-year-old girl named Jessie, whose family has been taking care of the lighthouse on the island for generations. Jessie’s mother has kept the light by herself since Jessie’s grandfather died of a heart attack ten days before the story begins. Afraid her family will lose the lighthouse, Jessie decides not to mail her mother’s letter informing the Lighthouse Service of her grandfather’s death and instead puts it in one of her mother’s canning jars and tosses it into the lake. Later, as a fierce November ice storm hits the island, the repercussions of this action will not only teach Jessie about honor and responsibility but will also give her hard-earned insight into what it means to be brave. Written for children between the ages of 8 and 12, To Keep the South Manitou Light provides regional history along with everyday lessons, all while engrossing young readers in an exciting story.

After her grandfather's death in the fall of 1871, twelve-year-old Jessie bravely helps her mother take care of the lighthouse her family has kept for generations on South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan, hoping that they will be allowed to continue to live and work there.

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Meet the Author

Anna Egan Smucker is the author of Outside the Window (Knopf, 1994) and No Star Nights (Knopf, 1989), which won the 1990 International Reading Association Children’s Book Award in the Younger Reader category. In addition to her writing, she gives author presentations and conducts writing workshops throughout the country.

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Customer Reviews

Anonymous

Posted April 14, 2005

Growing up in the 1870s wasn't so easy either

It is 1871, and the South Manitou Light is the only home Jessie Lafferty has ever known. When Jessie doesn't mail her mother's letter asking the Lighthouse Service for assistance, she creates a dangerous situation for her family and the ships that rely on the light. This is a middle-reader chapter book about growing up and taking responsibility for the actions we take. This is a most delightful book. The plot is tight and the narrative most descriptive. Even without having lived at a lighthouse, you get a sense of what life was like. It is easy to empathize with both Jessie and her mom. This is a book everyone can enjoy. If you live near or love lighthouses, you'll want this in your collection.

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